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Not so long ago Stephen Walker, 16, was burning away from police
in a stolen car with his mates in Wyong.

He took food from shops and got locked up a few times, until one
day he thought, "Man, this is not right", and sought rehabilitative
support from Father Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets. Yesterday
he was joy-riding at full pelt again, but this time in a tinnie on
Sydney Harbour, with a policeman on board to give tips on
steering.

Stephen was one of five "at risk" teenagers participating in a
sea skills program, run by NSW Police and NRMA Boat Insurance, and
officially opened yesterday.

Aged between 15 and 20, they will spend two days on the water
with the Marine Area Command police at Balmain, learning the skills
and earning their boat licences.

The Police Commissioner, Ken Moroney, said the aim was to build
self-esteem in the young people and help them become better
citizens.

"I think it's viewed that the historical role of the police is
about protection from crime, but equally what has to go hand in
hand is the prevention of crime in the first place," Mr
Moroney said.

The crime prevention officer, Senior Constable Fran Batten, said
it was a chance to let the teenagers "know that we can work with
them, rather than against them".

"A lot of people forget that police are just human," Constable
Batten said.

The message seems to have reached Krista Anne Walker, 18, who
wants to become a police officer. She made the "worse than hard"
decision to leave home at 13, knowing she was abandoning her four
younger siblings to the uncertainty of her mother's household, and
the abuse of the drug dealers and users who drifted through the
area.

She spent the next three years in and out of crisis
accommodation and on the streets: "At that stage of my life I
didn't want to be anywhere."

But 2½ years ago she pulled herself up, checked into
medium-term accommodation and has just completed a community
service course.

From the NRMA's point of view, the sea skills course is an
investment in people like Krista.

Its national operations manager, Jim Glossat, said such
activities made young people less likely to turn to crime. "[It]
actually makes sense for NRMA Insurance, because fewer risks means
fewer accidents and that means fewer claims," he said. Meanwhile,
Stephen said he only does "small stuff" these days. "I still do
practical jokes, like putting people's mail in other people's mail
boxes."